Magic Of Rafi Expressed In Numbers

It's been 34 years since this legendary voice left the world, but Mohammed Rafi or Rafi Saab (as he is fondly remembered as) remains etched in the memory and hearts of millions of music lovers across the world. For many he remains arguably the most versatile male playback singer the Hindi film industry has ever seen. His style has been imitated by many but none have come close to the magic of Rafi Saab.

Born in a village near Amritsar, Rafi Saab was noted as a gifted singer from a very early age. After singing at a concert meant for KL Saigal, he got his break in Bollywood, singing for Naushad in a 1944 film.

He ruled the roost for a large part of the 1950s and the 1960s, when he won half a dozen Filmfare Awards, as well as a National Award.

After a quiet period in the early 1970s, he came back with another National Award winning act in 1977. A consummate singer till his last breath, he recorded a song for the 1981 film Aas Paas a few hours before his passing. He breathed his last on 31st July, 1980, leaving behind an enduring body of work. 

On his 34th death anniversary here's an infographic that delves into the major milestones in his life.

A breakdown of his collaborations with various music directors and lyricists, interesting bits of trivia about him along with information on the languages he sung in and the numerous Awards he won.

While Rafi lent his voice to many mega stars of the 50s and 60s including Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar, he had a special association with Dev Anand. And the combo gave some unforgettable classics in films like Hum Dono, Tere Ghar Ke Saame and Guide.